Community Colleges Offer Students Many Degree and Certificate Options

As we continue to raise awareness about community colleges and the many advantages they provide, now is an ideal time to take a closer look at the many degree and certificate options that community colleges offer to their students.

What is a community college?

Also referred to as junior colleges, community colleges provide students interested in joining the workforce with two-year degrees. These associate’s degrees are designed to give students two options: immediately join the workforce after graduation or transfer to a four-year school to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Different Types of Two-year Degrees

Associate of Arts (A.A.)

This degree provides students with skills and knowledge related to the general education and liberal arts fields. AA degrees are classified as “transfer degrees.” Students who pursue this path will be expected to take a combination of general education courses and some electives related to their major.

Associate of Applied Arts (A.A.A.)

A.A.A degrees are considered to be similar to an A.A degree. However, in this instance the focus is more on vocational training. This degree is also designed to accommodate students who don’t have any plans to transfer to a four-year school and requires them to take a series of career-specific electives.

Associate of Science (A.S.)

Much like an A.A degree, an A.S. degree is considered to be a transfer-degree and is best suited for students who plan to go into medicine, engineering, computer science or business-oriented fields. Also, their electives will fall into the science and math categories.

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.)

A.A.S degrees are highly career-focused and not meant to be transferable. Students who pursue this kind of degree are those who want to go to work soon after they graduate. Some good examples of students who would appreciate this kind of degree are those planning to become chefs, early childhood educators, medical assistants, or welders.

Professional certifications

Professional certification programs take less than two years to complete. The proses of earning this honor involves a student undertaking a standardized process that will require them to demonstrate a level of skill and competency in a particular field.

Once the students have completed the requirements of the program they’ll be expected to take an exam administered by an credentialing organization before they can be awarded their certificate.